NHL ROUNDUP : Disputed Goal Gets Quebec Started Right

Long considered an up-and-coming team, Quebec is eager to prove it has finally arrived.

The Nordiques got off to a good, but much-disputed start when Owen Nolan scored the decisive goal in the final period of a 3-1 victory over the Flyers at Philadelphia.

Nolan’s goal, at 6:26 of the final period, was the second disputed goal of the game. It appeared to have been kicked in, but was allowed to stand after replay review.

Philadelphia goalie Ron Hextall vehemently disagreed with the ruling, saying “I’m 100% sure that goal . . . . was a joke.”

Bob Bassen got an insurance goal for Quebec with 37 seconds left in the game. Andrei Kovalenko scored the Nordiques’ first goal.

Rod Brind’Amour scored the Flyers’ lone goal, which was also disputed.

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New York Islanders 2, Florida 1--Rookie Zigmund Palffy scored his first two NHL goals in a 2:04 span of the third period to lead the Islanders to their first victory over the Panthers at Uniondale, N.Y.

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New York Rangers 5, Montreal 2--Mark Messier and Alexei Kovalev scored goals a minute apart late in the third period as the Rangers scored four power-play goals to spoil the Canadiens’ opener at New York.

Ranger goalie Mike Richter stopped 30 shots.

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San Jose 3, Toronto 2--Rookie Jeff Friesen scored his first NHL goal at San Jose to give the Sharks a measure of revenge over the team that ended their surprising playoff run last season.

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St. Louis 7, Vancouver 1--Adam Creighton continued his hot start with two goals and Steve Duchesne added a goal and an assist in the Blues’ rout of the Canucks at Vancouver.

Creighton, acquired before the lockout from Tampa Bay, has three goals and three assists in two victories under new Coach Mike Keenan.

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Washington 1, Hartford 1--Dmitri Khristich deflected in Calle Johansson’s slap shot in the third period as the Capitals tied the Whalers at Hartford, Conn.